Right in time for the big sweat, those pesky over-active oil glands are about to get a lesson in how to hit the road.
By Kate-Marie Thorpe
These over-achieving blackhead solutions will remedy your spots that won’t let up – sans the scarring.
It’s no revelation that age, stress and the general wear and tear of daily life prevent the successful monthly shedding of your skin. Effective cleansing will not only boost your skin’s natural repair mechanisms but will pave the way for soft, silky complexion through the prevention of blackheads.
Even the most sensitive of complexions can find solace with the Mirenesse Pebblesonic. 3000 tapping tips at 100 taps per second dislodge impurities with the softest silicone for a deep cleanse you just can’t get from your fingertips.
RRP: $169.00 from www.mirenesse.com
When a roller-coaster week turns into a minefield of blackheads and leaves you scrambling for your concealer… alarm bells should start ringing, “exfoliate!” By applying creams and makeup over dead cells, it’s like you’re gluing the dead cells to the skin. This build up will in fact exaggerate fine lines and aggravate skin conditions.
The Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Pore Control Scrub with micro beads to scrub away clogged dead skin cells and deeply clean pores and blackheads, leaving skin clear and smooth.
RRP: $23.50 from David Jones, Myer and www.dermalogica.com.au
“As we age our skin also loses turgor so we can find if we do not cleanse and exfoliate our skin as effectively as we should we can then have more ‘isolated’ but larger blackheads forming,” says Emma Hobson, Dermalogica Skin Expert.
The Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush is the facial brush, refreshed. Reach the contoured areas of the face that are often overlooked, clear excess oil production in the t-zone and gently melt away makeup from the cheeks and chin.
RRP: $$135 available from David Jones, Myer and online at www.clinique.com.au
“Use treatment products that clear and decongest the skin such as cleansing oils, clay-based cleansers, clearing masques, overnight clearing gels, antibacterial skin wipes, and oil absorbing mattifiers is essential,” says Emma.
KORA Organics Clay Purifying Mask is formulated with natural clay, noni extract and lavender to rebalance sebum excretion, draw impurities and refine pores.
RRP: $44.95 from David Jones
“A key ingredient to use in the effective treatment of blackheads is salicylic acid, as this is the only exfoliating ingredient that can work on the ‘inside’ of the follicle losing the impaction so the blackhead is released,” she says.
Rescu. Recommends: The Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA is a lightweight leave-on liquid exfoliant with antioxidants and salicylic acid to exfoliate pores and stimulate collagen production.
RRP: $38.00 from www.paulaschoice.com.au
The Clearasil Daily Clear Superfruits Scrub contains vitamin B3 to protect the skin’s barrier and one per cent salicylic acid to combat existing blackheads and prevent further breakouts.
RRP: $10.99 from supermarkets and pharmacies nationally, and online at www.clearasil.com.au
Strip away impurities with Biore’s cult classic Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips for the nose and chin. The strips diminish the appearance of pores and remove stubborn grime.
RRP: $10.49 from Priceline, Target, Big W, Coles, Woolworths and Pharmacies
Rescu. Roadtest:
If you’re in the market for going the extra mile when it comes to pore-fection, Rescu. recommends Isolaz.
“While I don’t suffer from severe acne, I certainly do experience breakouts and blackheads persistent and consistent enough to make any properly effective treatment a potentially life-changing one,” our reviewer shared, continuing,
“I experienced Isolaz at the Pally Beauty Laser Clinic in Sydney CBD and found the treatment to be a completely painless one that was akin to having your pores suctioned (in the best way possible). The broadband light that followed, to destroy bacteria, was comfortable and, again, completely painless. This treatment was followed by a relaxing mask that left my skin feeling softer than it had in years (possibly decades…).
Although I am only one treatment in to a series of three, I certainly felt that the initial treatment both healed existing breakouts and blackheads, and kept my skin under control for the weeks immediately afterwards even while I was travelling overseas.”
